185: How can we raise resilient children?

A lot of parents (and teachers) are concerned right now about children's resilience. Will they 'bounce back' from the difficulties of the pandemic?

But is 'bouncing back' really the way we should be thinking about this? We have all been changed by the pandemic; shouldn't we acknowledge this and see how we can be the best versions of ourselves, incorporating what we've been through over the last few years, rather than trying to 'bounce back' into what we were before (which frankly wasn't all that amazing in a lot of cases, as we rushed from one thing to another with never any time for ourselves).

In this episode we also consider Black and Indigenous researchers' perspectives on resilience, and see how their ideas can perhaps shift how we perceive resilience - and thus how we support our children.

Other episodes referenced

069: Reducing the impact of intergenerational trauma

069: Reducing the impact of intergenerational trauma

140: Mythbusting about fat and BMI with Dr. Lindo Bacon

140: Mythbusting about fat and BMI with Dr. Lindo Bacon

137: Psychological flexibility through ACT with Diana Hill

137: Psychological flexibility through ACT with Diana Hill

148: Is spanking a child really so bad?

148: Is spanking a child really so bad?

098: Do school shooter trainings help (or hurt) children?

098: Do school shooter trainings help (or hurt) children?

114: How to stop 'othering' and instead build 'belonging'

114: How to stop 'othering' and instead build 'belonging'

074: Attachment: What it is, what it's not, how to do it, and how to stop stressing about it

074: Attachment: What it is, what it's not, how to do it, and how to stop stressing about it

106: Patriarchy is perpetuated through parenting

106: Patriarchy is perpetuated through parenting 

Jump to highlights:01:10Introduction01:34Defining resilience from various perspectives03:16Resilience requires exposure to some kind of threat or severe adversity06:37What a lack of resilience looks like and how to measure its absence08:16Measuring resilience in research09:08The challenge of defining ‘protective’ factor10:00The history of research on resilience12:03The importance allowing children to cope with mild stressors14:40The Indigenous resilience17:17The control and dominance of indigenous peoples in Canada achieved through education and immersion in settler culture19:25 The importance of resilience culture in Indigenous communities21:02A model

A lot of parents (and teachers) are concerned right now about children's resilience. Will they 'bounce back' from the difficulties of the pandemic?

But is 'bouncing back' really the way we should be thinking about this? We have all been changed by the pandemic; shouldn't we acknowledge this and see how we can be the best versions of ourselves, incorporating what we've been through over the last few years, rather than trying to 'bounce back' into what we were before (which frankly wasn't all that amazing in a lot of cases, as we rushed from one thing to another with never any time for ourselves).

In this episode we also consider Black and Indigenous researchers' perspectives on resilience, and see how their ideas can perhaps shift how we perceive resilience - and thus how we support our children.

Other episodes referenced

069: Reducing the impact of intergenerational trauma

069: Reducing the impact of intergenerational trauma

140: Mythbusting about fat and BMI with Dr. Lindo Bacon

140: Mythbusting about fat and BMI with Dr. Lindo Bacon

137: Psychological flexibility through ACT with Diana Hill

137: Psychological flexibility through ACT with Diana Hill

148: Is spanking a child really so bad?

148: Is spanking a child really so bad?

098: Do school shooter trainings help (or hurt) children?

098: Do school shooter trainings help (or hurt) children?

114: How to stop 'othering' and instead build 'belonging'

114: How to stop 'othering' and instead build 'belonging'

074: Attachment: What it is, what it's not, how to do it, and how to stop stressing about it

074: Attachment: What it is, what it's not, how to do it, and how to stop stressing about it

106: Patriarchy is perpetuated through parenting

106: Patriarchy is perpetuated through parenting 

Jump to highlights:01:10Introduction01:34Defining resilience from various perspectives03:16Resilience requires exposure to some kind of threat or severe adversity06:37What a lack of resilience looks like and how to measure its absence08:16Measuring resilience in research09:08The challenge of defining ‘protective’ factor10:00The history of research on resilience12:03The importance allowing children to cope with mild stressors14:40The Indigenous resilience17:17The control and dominance of indigenous peoples in Canada achieved through education and immersion in settler culture19:25 The importance of resilience culture in Indigenous communities21:02A model of resilience by Dr. Edith Grotberg 27:01Resilience determined by the dominant culture's expectations of normal, healthy, and good outcomes30:08The real purpose of resilience32:18What happens when a person isn't deemed to be resilient and why that is33:46Resilience as a code for social compliance38:59What true resilience should be about (based on the story about the Claremont Counseling Center's community building)40:53Wrapping up

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